Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Richmond-upon-Thames, England

I don't want to make this blog the story of my accommodation, but on Sunday morning I woke up surrounded by lakes, golf courses and spell-bound Essex girls in white towelling robes.

In stark contrast, my hotel the next night had an egg and chips carpet and three-quarters bald (male) receptionist, who still favoured a tight curly perm on the few strands he had left. I did ask for a view of the river in Bedford, but it didn't matter anyway, as I couldn't see out of the dirty windows! If anyone is reading from Essex Council, can you please put up more road signs...

It was then over the , round the south side of the M25, to Richmond-upon-Thames in Surrey. There were houses bigger than my whole road and I felt like I should wipe my feet before walking on the pavement! I am trying to avoid the capital, but this was definitely worth it.

The German School, where city bankers and embassy staff send their children, is situated next to Ham Polo Club and has 700 pupils from cots to teens. With an estimated 300,000 Germans in the UK and 80,000 of those in the capital, the school helps give familes the chance to remain in touch with their culture.

Once again, technical issues provided our greatest challenge. Don't tell Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Health and Safety, but this time we had to climb on the roof to establish communications...

The space where we watched the game had a wonderful -style ceiling, with rows of seats laid out with typical German precision. Many of the 350 people who watched with me turned up minutes before kick-off. The free Austrian beer may have helped, but the Germans were a lot more passionate than the Portuguese had been the night before. One brave Pole dared to venture in and was warmly received.

I watched the match with a little boy called Maxie, who was born in Croatia and adopted by German parents. He is supporting his country of birth so cheered every Polish challenge. As for me, I was the victim of mild England-bating from a man, woman and child, all German and brimming with confidence that the game was just a warm-up for success much later in the tournament.

My journey to the hotel later that night was far less eventful than the previous evening. But, having arrived, I then took part in my own version of , trying to negotiate stairwells, lifts and 100m-long corridors while carrying 15 cases of broadcast equipment.